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Camp fire in northern California became the most destructive fire in the state's history, cremating the city of Paradise and displacing more than 50,000 people, while other fires continue to rage further south.
At least 29 people were killed in the camp's fire, making it one of the deadliest in California's history. The California Department of Forests and Fire Protection said Monday that the camp's fire had increased to three square miles to reach 177 square kilometers and that it was under control at 25 percent.
Two people also died in the Woolsey Fire, a major fire around Los Angeles, bringing to 31 the total number of deaths in the state.
On Monday, officials said the Woolsey fire destroyed 91,572 acres and destroyed 370 structures. That was 20% of content. On Sunday evening, some neighborhoods allowed the evacuees to return and the US Highway 101 to the west of Los Angeles was reopened.
Across the state, 150,000 people have been displaced and more than 8,000 firefighter teams are deployed. Authorities reported that 228 people were not found.
Fire officials warned that high winds and dry conditions would threaten the coverage of several areas by the rest of the week.
About 1,300 people found shelter in evacuation shelters around Paradise, according to Cal Fire spokesman Steve Kaufman, who includes several shelters in Butte County and some in Sutter counties, Glenn and Plumas. But this is only a fraction of the total number of displaced people from paradise, Magalia, Concow and other towns in the foothills of the Sierra.
Many people have converged on Chico, a town of about 90,000 located just 20 minutes from paradise. Chico hotels are at full capacity with people evacuated by fire and some, but not all, shelters are full. Others stayed with friends, family members or even in their car, wanting to stay close enough to be able to return home at any time, even if it could take months.
A Walmart in Chico has become an unofficial refugee camp for people displaced by their move. l & # 39; fire. On Sunday, more than a dozen tents lined an empty field next to the store, while the parking lot was filled day and night with trailers and cars stuffed with personal items – toys, pillows, and family photos.
Although without some comforts. from a traditional refuge, fire refugees in the parking lot have not been forgotten. The owners of local food trucks were there to provide free food and religious groups all over the state were preparing and distributing meals. Chico residents provided free clothing, toys and equipment.
Evacuees reported that they found no space in a nearby shelter, did not want to separate from their animals, or did not feel comfortable in a shelter. [19659013] Residents locate their homes on a fire information map indicating the perimeter of the campfire located in the evacuation building of the neighborhood church in Chico, in California, November 10th. "src =" https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b25b1e37d5437a710f73baadbed6ee3f8c698925/0_384_5760_3456/master/5760.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=868332c131d2acd3aa225f07563b866b "/>
Residents locate their homes on a map of fire information indicating the perimeter of the camp fire. at the evacuation shelter of the neighborhood church in Chico, California on November 10th. Photography: Peter Dasilva / EPA
In this unofficial evacuation center, stories of generosity on the part of those most affected have emerged. Tammy Mezera and her friend Daryl Merritt spent three nights in a tent outside the store after the fire forced them to save their lives. When they discovered a neighbor, Matthew Flanagan, who had slept under a taco truck, they left him extra space under their tent.
"It's like an instant family," said Mezera while stroking her dog. "We take care of each other."
The three friends become friends with strangers like Andrew Duran, who sleeps right in front of their tent in a sleeping bag. And despite the darkness and the loss, they showed endless generosity to each other. After having lunch together on Sunday morning, they shared a few laughs while dancing on Bill Withers' Lean on Me.
This is the kind of gathering that the community will need, said Mezera, after the loss of more than 6,400 homes.
Meanwhile, as firefighters and law enforcement agencies seek to protect the city and its citizens from deadly flames, they lost their own homes. The fire destroyed the homes of 17 police officers in Paradise, Chief Eric Reinbold said. None of the officers missed a day of work since the start of the fire, he added.
At least 38 firefighters fighting the fire have lost their homes, said Tim Aboudara, State Service Representative of the International Association of Fire Fighters. It was expected that this number would increase.
A business burned in downtown Paradise after the fire that burned the area region on Nov. 11. Photography: Peter Dasilva / EPA
The badociation worked with the CDF firefighters foundation and California firefighters to help firefighters and their families. Several have already been placed in temporary housing, said Aboudara.
Along with the loss of their own home, many firefighters are devastated. They could not prevent the rapid spread of the fire before it overtook the city of Paradise, Aboudara said.
"Our job is to put out the fire and we can not stop it," Aboudara said. "We could not do anything."
No long-term project to house the evacuees, who may not be allowed to return home for months, has been announced, but Congressman Doug LaMalfa announced on Sunday that it was expecting a federal disaster declaration The White House in the coming days, about calls from the governor, Jerry Brown.
"It's really a tragedy that all Californians can understand and react to," Brown told reporters Sunday. "It's time for us to recover and overcome these tragedies."
Once federal badistance is approved, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) will travel to the area to begin working with residents locals and business owners at recovery.
